October 19, 2005

Greece says no new bird flu cases detected

Greece's government said no more cases of bird flu have been detected, following the recent case found in a turkey farm on the Aegean Sea island of Oinouses.

The government said veterinarians were checking other samples taken nationwide but all tested negative for the disease so far.

Meanwhile, the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has urged farmers and the public to report any suspicious bird deaths, as part of a major surveillance programme against bird flu.

DEFRA has also been working with British ornithological and conservation groups to monitor wild birds.

During the three-month surveillance programme, samples of live birds caught in traps, hunted birds and those found dead, would be taken.

DEFRA would monitor species including the teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, tufted duck, gadwell, pochard and lapwing.